• The agreements include the construction of a 35 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)

• The project aims to stop the flow of sewage into river Ganga from Maheshtala, situated on the east bank of River Ganga

India: The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has signed two quadripartite agreements for the development of sewage infrastructure this week, including a 35 MLD STP, for Maheshtala in West Bengal under Hybrid Annuity Mode at a total cost of Rs. 273.52 crore.

One agreement is an escrow agreement between National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), M/s. Maheshtala Waste Water Management Private Limited (MWWMPL), and Union Bank of India.

The other agreement is a substitution agreement between NMCG, KMDA, MWWMPL, and Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank (Development Bank of Austria).

The agreements were signed in the presence of G. Asok Kumar, DG, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG); Katharina Wieser, Ambassador of Austria to India; SR Meena, DDG; DP Mathuria, ED (Technical); Bhaskar Dasgupta, ED (Finance); SP Vashishtha, ED (Admin); Hans-Jörg Hörtnagl, Austrian Trade Commission, and Antara Acharya, Project Director, State Program Management Group, West Bengal.

Maheshtala is situated on the east bank of River Ganga. This project aims to stop the flow of sewerage into River Ganga from the town.

The major components of the project include a 35 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), 4 pumping stations, 6 diversion structures, Repair & Rehabilitation work, 15 years of Operation & Maintenance (O&M), etc.

This project is under Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) wherein 40% of the construction cost will be paid during the 24-months construction period and the balance 60% will be paid as quarterly annuities along with interest and Operation & Maintenance (O&M) cost over a period of 15 years.

Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG (Development Bank of Austria) is financing MWWMPL, which will be responsible for the entire development and operation of both sewerage network and STPs for 15 years of the concession period.

The payment during the operations period will be subject to the achievement of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in terms of treated wastewater quality for the STPs.

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